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Founded by Theodore Loblaw and John Milton Cork in 1919, Loblaws stores used to operate across Canada until the early 1960s, when most locations in western Canada were re-branded as SuperValu, and later as Real Canadian Superstore. The company also once operated stores in upstate New York, Northwest Pennsylvania, and Northeast Ohio. These were sold to Bells Markets in the mid-1970s. Some of the Loblaws stores in northwestern Pennsylvania continued operation into the early 1990s. What is likely the final empty Loblaw building in NY in Johnstown/Gloversville was demolished in 2015, having been standing empty since the chain's departure in the 1970s, even to having the name still on the sign, showing no reuse of the site.

Actor William Shatner did a number of television commercials for Loblaws in the 1970s, and finished the ad spots by saying originally, "At Loblaws, more than the price is right; but, by gosh the price is right!" later shortened to, "At Loblaws, more than the price is right."

Beginning in 2008, some new and renovated Loblaws stores were given a new store format and were named Loblaw Great Foods, dropping the red-orange curved-L logo. Stores under this banner are also subject to slightly different collective-agreement terms with the United Food and Commercial Workers, the union representing Loblaw employees. The chain's location on the site of the former Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, opened in late 2011, is promoted as simply Loblaws and uses the familiar "L" logo, but is officially named "Loblaws Great Food", indicating that similar terms are in place at that store.[1] On July 19, 2013, Loblaws introduced their new concept "Loblaws CityMarket" in North Vancouver, BC., Richmond, BC and Vancouver, BC. Loblaws CityMarkets are now operational in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta. On July 23, 2015, Loblaws announced the planned closure of 52 non-profitable stores over the next year.[2]